Brake-beam fulcrum.



G. H. FAHBENBRUCH & F. HOLADA.

BRAKE BEAM FULCRUM. APFLICA'HOW'HEED DEC-7.1911.

Patented Apr. 16,1918.

placed through the brake leveri zen-BEAM summon.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patamteed Apr. 16, 193$,

Application filed December 2, 1817. Serial No. 305,981.

have invented certain new and useful improvements in Brake-Beam l ulcrums, of

which the following is a specification.

Uur invention relates to a new and useful improvement in brake beam fulcrums often spoken of as strut or brake lever posts.

An object of our invention is to so construct the fulcrum or post so that it may be quickly changed from a right to a left one or vice, verse, to accommodate the brake lever operated from either side.

Another important object of, our-invention is to sorgonstruct the fulcrum that instead of passing the ordinary pin therethrough to hold the same in the post, a pin is out to a proper length which may be which pin acts as lugs which are-in turn p aced in the passageway provided in the fulcrum so that it is impossible for the pin to accidentally drop from the same, thus preventing the brake lever from being accidentally disengaged from the fulcrum post.

As is well known in the art the ordinary pins work or drop out of the brake lever and fulcrum allowing the brake rigging to become disarranged and often thereby causing serious accidents.

Still other objects of our invention are to provide a fulcrum post that may be quickly changed from left to right and in which may be used a brake lever with a shortened pin; but at the same time if it is desired to use the old form of pin and cotter key it. may be done by simply drilling one hole in the post at the end of the passage in said post.

With these and other objects in view our invention consists in certain new and novel constructions and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims. a

In the drawings forming a part hereof wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts,

rigure 1 is a plan view of an ordinary brake beam with our improved fulcrum post and lever in one of its positions.

.Eig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 7- Fig. 3 15 an end elevation but hav the face with a slot turned to the front;

Fig. at is a sectional view taken on line it-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end View showing the transverse s lotted portions, and I Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a slight modification, the section being taken in the same position as Fig. 2.

-Referr.ing now to the drawings, we have shown a conventional brake beam comprising the compression member .1 of ordinary channel shaped material and a tension member 2. This tension member is shown as a round rod, but it is to be understood that a fiat bar may be just as easily accommodated.

Our invention resides in the fulcrum or strut or brake lever post 3 which is preferably cast in one solid piece, the inner end or base 4 being rectangular in shape, the middle portion 5 being also rectangular in shape but the surfaces disposed at acute angles with relation to the base 4, while the outer end portion 6 is rounded as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

/ Transverse grooves 7 and 8 are also provided on the outer end of the fulcrum post 3 to accommodate the tension member 2, that is, the tension member 2 will be in one of the grooves when the fulcrum is in one position and in the other when the fulcrum is turned to its other position.

Referring again to the base of the fulcrum, 3, it is to be noticed that it is provided with four grooves 9 disposed about centrally of the faces and from one end of the same to the other. These grooves are not necessarily of much depth as clearly seen in the drawings, their function being to partly receive the rivets 10 that are passed through the compression member 1 to tightly hold the fulcrum post 3 in its set position, and it will be noticed that only two opposite grooves are in use at the one time depending on the position of the fulcrum post 3. Two bands 11 are shown which partly encircle the channel beam or compression member through the ends of which are passed the rivets 10, which bands are to help;1 strengthen the beam and also hel hold t e fulcrum post in place.

efore describing the other features of the invention it might here. be mentioned, that all that is necessary to change the position of the post from one accommodating a I left *hand rigging to one to accommodate a right hand rigging, is to out one of the rivets 1,

knock the fulcrum out of its position from the rear and shift it 90; or in other words, 'turn it to the right so that the faces of the base 4 which were formerly the top and bottom faces become the two side faces and replacea new rivet. These rivets now will fit within the grooves that occupy the vertical position and the post is now set to accommodate the brake lever which is operated from a right hand position.

This is a comparatively simple matter as it i; not necessary to disarrange the brake be-m in any way or loosen the tension memher 2, as the post is easily slipped into place from the rear.

From this it willbe seen that if itis desired to use the brake'beam with the left hand rigging, the fulcrum post is set as clearly shown in Fig. 1, While if it is desired to he used with a car having a right hand rigging, one rivet only is cut away, the post revolved to the right so that the slot in the .same is now on the right side, the necessary rivet is again placed in the position and the brake beam may now be used to accommodate a right hand brake rigging.

Referring-now to the middle portion 5 of the fulcrum, it will be noticed that a slot is formed therein passing completely through the two opposite faces. This slot 12 is for the reception of the brake lever 13 which is fulcrumed in the post or strut 3. Extending transversely of this slot 12 and near the upper end are the cut out portions 14 which then curve downwardly as at 15 and then inwardly as at 16; in other words-forming substantially an ogee curve. These cut outportions are, of course, on the inner surface of the slotted portion and the walls thereof guide the brake lever 13 to its final position, that is, the pin forming the lugs 17 in the brake lcYcr 13 when passed in the cut out portion 11- will be guided downwardly and inwardly, and furthermore the lugs 17 will hold the pivot against the walls at 16.

With this construction it will be'impossible for the brake lever to drop clear from the slot 12, as to remove the lever the pin forming the lugs 17 on the same will have to be moved backward following substantially the ogee curve.

Referring now for the moment to the modification shown in Fig. 6supposing it is desired to use our improved post with an ordinary brake lever, all that is necessary is to drill a hole at 15 in the post at the end of the cut out portion as at 16 and pass the ordinary pin or bolt through the same to hold the lever in its set position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that with our improved invention the fulcrum post may be used as either a right or left hand one, may be used with a certain form of short pin wherein it is impossible for the same to become accidentally removed, or, if the necessity arises, it may be used with the ordinary form of retaining pin now in use. I

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A brake beam fulcrum having a rectangular shaped base and angularly disposed remaining portion, vsaid remaining portion provided with a slot therein for the reception of a brake lever and transverse passageways formed at the outer end of said post.

2. A brake beam fulcrum having a rectangular base, the four sides of said base being each provided with a groove therein extending across the face for the reception of retaining members, a central portion having a plurality of faces, said central portion having a slot extending completely through they same for the reception of a brake lever, and transverse'passageways at the end of the fulcrum to accommodate a tension member.

3. A brake beam fulcrum adapted to be changed from a left to right position and vice versa, comprising a base, a central portion provided with a slot for the reception of a brake lever, the said slotted portion provided with cut out portions for guiding and retaining the brake lever in position.

4. A brake beam fulcrum adapted to be set in both a right and left hand position, a central portion of said fulcrum being slotted at an angle to ahorizontal line, a tortuous guideway formed on the inner surface of the slotted portion to position a brake lever when placed in the slotted portion of the fulcrum, and the outer end of said post provided with transverse passageways.

5. A brake beam fulcrum in combination with a brake lever provided with lugs on its opposite faces, said p'ost having a rectangu-' lar base provided with grooves on its side faces for the reception of'retaining mem bers, a rectangular central portion, the faces of the same disposed at an angle to the faces of the base, the said central portion provided with a slot extending through from one face to the other, said slot being also disposed at walls of the slotted portion having formed therein a cut out portion substantially in the form of an ogee cur e and adapted to guide the lugs on the brate lever when said brake lever is inserted in the slotted portion.

l 6. In combination with a brake beam and curved passageway formed on the inner brake lever having lugs thereon, a right and walls of the slotted portion for guidin and left hand fulcrum post fitting within the retaining the said brake lever when fiaced compression member of said brake beam, in said post, the outer end of said post hav-' 5 5 said fulcrum having a rectangular base proing two angularly disposed passageways 'for vided with grooves therein, retaining meansthe reception of a tension member. passing through said compression members In testimony whereof we afiix our signaand fitting within said grooves for holding tures. the fulcrum in itsset position, said post bea 10 ing 'angularly. slotted for the reception of GEORGE H. FAHRENBRUCH., the brake lever, said base also having a v FRANK HOLADA. 

